The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #48959   Message #3200542
Posted By: Gibb Sahib
02-Aug-11 - 07:51 PM
Thread Name: South Australia:What the hell's a 'Rolling King'?
Subject: RE: What the hell's a 'Rolling King'?
1962        Harlow, Frederick Pease. _Chanteying Aboard American Ships_. Barre, Mass.: Barre Publishing Co.

Supposed to have been heard aboard the AKBAR, 1875/76. It was sung off Melbourne by "Dave" at the windlass, who,

...could hardly wait for the order to Heave away," before he started the home chantey that he had prepared and taught the other members of the crew the day before...."


South Australia is my native land.
Heave away! Heave away!
Mountains rich in quartz and sand.
I am bound for South Australia.
Heave away! Heave away!
Heave away, you Ruler King,
I am bound for South Australia.
...


It continues with many incidental verses not adopted elsewhere.

The music given compares well with the tune in LA Smith. One might expect all the tunes to be quite similar, however, Laurie's (Doerflinger) and Hatfield's are similar, whereas Smith's and Harlow's represent a different style. Note that Harlow did read Smith. His lyrics are completely independent of hers, but perhaps after all those years he needed some help remembering the tune? Also note that Harlow's tune notation has something a bit "off" about it rhythmically, like some error in barring was made, and some emphases have been shifted. So, though the *contour* of Harlow's melody is very close to Smith's, the emphasis here is like "HEAVE away."

Interesting that the chantyman in Harlow's description had to teach the song to the crew. Perhaps it was relatively new, in ca.1876. All of the other accounts (so far listed) are by people who would not have been in a position to hear the song until after 1875, so this may be the case.